Alex Cobb won his first start of the season, Matt Joyce hit a grand slam and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 on Saturday.

Clay Thompson wanted to visit the touch tank in center field, leave his sweet seat in the Tampa Bay Rays family section at Tropicana Field, turn his back on Thursday's game and pet a cownose ray.

Clay Thompson wanted to visit the touch tank in center field, leave his sweet seat in the Tampa Bay Rays family section at Tropicana Field, turn his back on Thursday's game and pet a cownose ray.

During the past few days, RHP Alex Cobb began preparing for a potential call-up to the big club.

Tommy Hanson pitched seven effective innings, Freddie Freeman drove in two runs and the Atlanta Braves beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Friday night.

Interleague play often allows an opportunity for the Rays to shine.

Under manager Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay entered the start of interleague play this season with a 62-46 record, including 12-6 a year ago. Even Friday's starter, James Shields, proved a proponent of the mingling of opponents from the two leagues, winning three of his four starts against National League teams last season with three complete games and 42 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Those stats were thrown out the window Friday as the Rays dropped the first game of interleague play, 5-3 to the Atlanta Braves in the first of a three-game series.

Interleague play often allows an opportunity for the Rays to shine.

Under manager Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay entered the start of interleague play this season with a 62-46 record, including 12-6 a year ago. Even Friday's starter, James Shields, proved a proponent of the mingling of opponents from the two leagues, winning three of his four starts against National League teams last season with three complete games and 42 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Those stats were thrown out the window Friday as the Rays dropped the first game of interleague play, 5-3 to the Atlanta Braves in the first of a three-game series.

Interleague play often allows an opportunity for the Rays to shine.

Under manager Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay entered the start of interleague play this season with a 62-46 record, including 12-6 a year ago. Even Friday's starter, James Shields, proved a proponent of the mingling of opponents from the two leagues, winning three of his four starts against National League teams last season with three complete games and 42 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Those stats were thrown out the window Friday as the Rays dropped the first game of interleague play, 5-3 to the Atlanta Braves in the first of a three-game series.

Alex Cobb will be recalled from Triple A Durham and start Saturday for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Atlanta Braves at Tropicana Field, taking the turn of Jeff Niemann, whose right fibula was fractured Monday in Toronto.

Elliot Johnson stepped in with a game-winning hit when Evan Longoria went down, and his batting average has been rising ever since.